Bride Wood - SOLD, West Sussex - 5 ¾ acres, £75,000

Bride Wood is tucked away about a kilometre from the road down a stoned track (a wonderful walk in itself, however the owner will be able to drive and park at the wood). Having been here for many hundreds of years, Bride Wood has the character of a mature and well-established wood.

The bank of the River Ouse provides a natural boundary line along the north side of the wood. The west edge of this boundary is intersected by an old water spillway creek that flows through the north part of Bride Wood. (Be aware that the spillway and creek can be very deep and fast flowing). This spillway re-joins the River Ouse a little further downstream, and so it forms an unusual ‘island section’ which is included as part of Bride Wood. Lying undisturbed, the island section has many mature trees, and the woodland floor is covered by wild garlic flowers during the spring.

From the north side of the wood you can see across the meadow to where, in the distance, the occasional steam train passes on the Bluebell Railway. Facing back south into the wood there is evidence of an old quarry, which now provides an attractive small natural dip surrounded by old coppiced birch and hornbeam. There is a wide range of broadleaf trees in Bride Wood, mainly oak, birch, ash, hazel, hornbeam, alder and chestnut. Down by the river are also willow, elder and holly trees, the latter of which show signs of grazing by deer. You might be surprised to see dry, dead chestnut both lying and still standing. This is partly a result of the chestnut coppice having been affected by phytophthora. (See note below).

There is a large parking area for owners just off the main track and two separate ride stop entrances into Bride Wood. One just at the rear of the large parking area, and the other leads to the lower levels of the wood, via a short section of stoned track, which goes down a short but quite steep hill (usable in dry conditions with 4WD vehicle)

Bride Wood is within the heart of Wapsbourne Wood, an estate that has been wooded since medieval times, and perhaps for longer. The whole area is designated as Ancient Woodland and is close to the border between West Sussex and East Sussex. Owning a wood here would provide a great base for exploring the area, particularly as access to the Sussex Ouse Valley Way walk is nearby. This is a walk of some 40 miles in total length, giving access to many areas of interest and natural beauty in Sussex. Just beyond the River Ouse is the Bluebell Railway terminus at Sheffield Park, with connections to East Grinstead and the mainline, and just beyond that is Sheffield Park Gardens.

The owner of Bride Wood will have vehicle rights of way along the portion of the stoned track marked on the plan in green.

Note: For well over a hundred years, chestnut was much in demand for fencing and for hop poles. The poles were cut back to ground level in a regular cycle, and grew back again. In recent years, because of lack of demand, some of the oldest stools have not been cut for a long time. They went on growing taller and wider. The roots of these were unable to cope with providing water and nutrients for such a high and spreading crown, and succumbed to a common chestnut disease called phytophthora. They died and are now ready to provide a good supply of well-seasoned wood for your own wood-burning stove. We have been told by experts that this strain of phytophthora is unlikely to spread to any other varieties of tree in the wood, or to trees that are coppiced regularly.

The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of adjoining woodlands and meadows.

Local manager

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Directions

• At the village of Danehill, turn right into Freshfields Lane, signposted to Freshfields.

• Go about 3 miles until you go over a small bridge across the river, then go past the The Sloop Inn on your left.

• After about 120 meters from The Sloop Inn there is a private drive (this is also a public footpath) between the houses Bacon Wish and Field Cottage. (Please do not drive into or park on this driveway)

• After walking about 100 meters up the drive you will reach a locked wooden gate with a Woodlands for Sale Sign on it.

• Walk around this gate and keep going straight ahead on a stoned track for about 1000 meters and and as it curves to the right, you will come to a large stoned area on your left. This is for owner parking in the wood.

• Walk to the back of this area and you will come to a ‘Woodlands for Sale’ sign with a ridestop. This is the first vehicle entrance to Bride Wood

• You can also follow the track on the left, down a short quite steep stoned section where you will come to another vehicle entrance into the lower section of Bride Wood.

• NB The owner of Bride Wood will have a key and vehicle right of access along this route.

Boundaries:

The boundaries of the wood are indicated with Pink paint markings.

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Our regional managers are often out working in our woodlands, so if you email an offer and want to be sure it has been received, please phone our manager on his or her mobile phone. The first offer at the stated price which is accepted, whether by phone or email, has priority.

Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception. You should exercise common sense and caution, such as wearing appropriate footwear and avoiding visiting during high winds.

These particulars are for guidance only and, though believed to be correct, do not form part of any contract. Woodland Investment Management Ltd hereby give notice under section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 of their interest in the land being sold.